Originally published: . Volume 13, No. 3. Source pages: 3.
On Feb. 16. Gov. Edwards extended Louisiana's COVID public health emergency order to support Louisiana's response to the pandemic, but without any remaining required mitigation measures.
The Governor's Office, the Louisiana Department of Health and the CDC still recommend that all people wear masks when they are indoors in public or in a large outdoor crowd while all areas of the state are considered high transmission areas for the coronavirus.
While masks are not required statewide in Louisiana, there are still federal regulations requiring them in health care settings and on transit. In addition, local governments, school districts and businesses may choose to require masks as they see fit, based on the level of COVID in their communities.
The Governor's current order expires on March 16, 2022, though he may end it before that date. The original COVID public health emergency was signed on March 11, 2020 and has been extended and altered as the COVID situation in Louisiana has changed. The Governor's office is working with Cabinet officials to determine if allowing the order to expire would hinder Louisiana's response to COVID.
This article is part of a historical newspaper archive. Read the original issue for its original layout, photographs and graphics.